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Overview

Vaccines are an important part of preventive care throughout life from infancy through adulthood. Vaccinations/Immunizations help prevent many serious and sometimes life-threatening diseases. Immunizations are most often given as injections and are often given in a series of three or more shots over months or years. Check with your doctor regularly to make sure you're current on all of your shots.

Alvernia University's Required Immunizations

For the safety of all our students, Alvernia University requires the following immunizations. Our requirements are supported by the Centers for Disease Control and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. If for any reason you are unable or unwilling to receive these vaccinations, you must submit in writing the reason to the Director of Health Services and sign a waiver. Noncompliance with these requirements may prevent you from registering for classes.

1 TDaP (tetanus, diptheria and acellular pertussis) within the past 10 years

1 Meningitis Vaccine after the age of 16 **Required for resident students, recommended for commuter students**

These are the minimum health requirements to attend Alvernia University. If your program of study requires any off campus internship type of experience (i.e. fieldwork, clinical, student teaching, etc.), you may have additional health requirements. Please be sure to review your handbook or speak with your advisor about any additional health requirements prior to the semester of the off campus experience.

Flu Vaccine

The Health & Wellness Center recommends the flu vaccine for all of our students, faculty and staff. We strongly encourage our high-risk community to be vaccinated.

You are considered HIGH RISK if any of the following apply to you:

Pregnant females.

Healthcare workers, including students doing clinical rotations and those providing home care to those at high-risk for complications.

Persons with chronic medical problems.

Heart or lung disease, including asthma

Diabetes

Weakened immune system

Blood, liver, kidney, neurologic or neuromuscular disorders

American Indians and Alaskan natives.

Caregivers of children younger than 5 years of age or those with the high-risk conditions mentioned above.

Individuals over the age of 50.

Prevention of Common Viral Illnesses

Practice good hand washing hygiene: Wash your hands often, especially after you cough or sneeze. If you are not able to wash hands, use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.

Practice good respiratory etiquette: Cover your nose and mouth with your sleeve when you cough or sneeze. Throw away your tissue after you use it.

Stay home if you have flu or flu-like illness. You should be fever free without the use of fever reducing medications (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) for 24 hours before returning to class or work.

Talk with your health care providers about whether you should be vaccinated for seasonal flu.

Health & Wellness Update

As a service to the Alvernia University community, the Health & Wellness Center, along with other University Life offices and Athletics, is providing an online subscription to Student Health 101 to all of our students and their families. Take a look at the current issue and watch your email and facebook for the next monthly issue!

Recently, there has been a lot of media attention on the resurgence of bed bugs in the United States. To find out more and to learn what to do if you find bed bugs, please click here.